Specialty foods manufacturer Colavita USA has agreed to work with ecommerce provider Boxed to provide direct-to-consumer ecommerce logistics, including inventory management, warehousing and fulfillment.
The agreement is different from other supply relationships Boxed has with CPG partners, in that Boxed will not take ownership of the Colavita products in its fulfillment center.
“We will have their products in our warehouse, but Colavita owns that inventory,” Alison Weick, president, ecommerce, at Boxed told SFA News Daily. “We are providing the services to get those products to their customers. They are the first vendor we are working with in this capacity.”
Colavita is a leading importer of Italian specialty food products, perhaps best known for its extra virgin olive oil. Other product offerings include premium vinegars, pasta, sauces, vegetables, and gift baskets, as well as other Italian brands such as Perugina, Rio Mare, Mulino Bianco, and San Benedetto. Colavita is also a major partner and supplier for meal subscription company HelloFresh.
“Our relationship with Boxed as a vendor has always been strong,” said Giovanni Colavita, CEO of Colavita USA, in a statement. “We are beyond excited to expand that synergy to include their supply chain and fulfillment expertise.”
Boxed will support Colavita’s direct-to-consumer ecommerce business from its flagship, fully automated fulfillment center in Union, New Jersey. Colavita’s U.S. operations are headquartered in nearby Edison, New Jersey.
“We have established relationships with hundreds of vendors like Colavita, and now we are in a position to provide them with all of their supply chain and logistics operation’s needs,” said Weick.
Boxed declined to provide details on the financial terms of the agreement with Colavita USA.
Launched in 2013 as an online store for bulk CPG products, Boxed has since expanded to offer software and services to support ecommerce for other businesses.
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